Dear Octet,

This season of Lent is a continuous melody that beckons us to reflect and repent of "the stuff" that needs restoration in Christ. For those of us in New England where the hearty and hardworking reside, self-reliance can be that very thing. It rears its head, disturbing the "rest" that Jesus promises for our souls in Matthew 11. 

As daylight lengthens in the lead up to Easter, I am reminded of the lightness of yoke that Jesus promises us in Him. We shed our heavy coats for spring wear. May Easter Sunday be the glorious beginning of new, lighter possibilities for all of us—the sweet fruit born of reflection and repentance.

With joy and kind regards,

Mia Chung-Yee

Executive Director

• Read an essay titled, "Gratitude is a Part of Justice" by Nathan Barczi, Octet Collaborative Associate Director and Senior Theologian.
• Listen to a conversation between Danny Yamashiro, MIT Chaplain and President of JCCY, Inc. (Jesus Christ is Calling You Ministries), and Nathan Barczi.
• RSVP for a Veritas Forum at MIT titled, "Does AI Threaten Human Dignity?"

Gratitude is a Part of Justice

By: Nathan Barczi, Associate Director and Senior Theologian

The essay explores what we gain in understanding and pursuing gratitude when we think of it as a virtue, related to the cardinal virtue of justice.

Diálogos: The Adolescent's Transition to Adulthood

On Monday, April 29th, the Octet Collaborative will welcome Nancy Hill, Charles Bigelow Professor of Education at Harvard and developmental psychologist, and Thea Keith-Lucas, MIT Chaplain to the Institute, for Octet's fourth and final intellectual hospitality event of the academic year. Please note the date change to April 29th. Invitations are forthcoming. If you're interested in attending this event for the first time, please email comm@octetcollaborative.org

Welcome Sam Lee to Octet!

Please join us in welcoming Sam Lee to the Octet Collaborative team! Beginning during the 2024-2025 academic year, Sam will serve as Assistant Theologian and Project Manager. Sam brings an array of ministry skills and experience to the role having served in various capacities at churches, including Worship Leader, Director of Children's Ministry, and Digital Media Production Technician. He completed a bachelor's degree at Vanderbilt University and a master's degree at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, and he is currently pursuing a Master of Theological Studies in Old Testament/Hebrew Bible at Harvard University. Sam is also a gifted cellist and has performed with many orchestras.

Sabbath Midweek

Each Wednesday, the Octet Collaborative hosts Sabbath Midweek, a lunch and prayer event open to MIT faculty, staff and students. The weekly event is meant to provide space and time for rest, prayer and fellowship during the busy week. All are welcome for a free lunch and time of prayer. If you'd like to receive weekly reminders on Sabbath Midweek, text JOIN to 833-459-3187.

Graduate Christian Fellowship

Mia Chung-Yee, Octet's Executive Director, spoke at MIT's Graduate Christian Fellowship meeting on March 1 and gave a presentation titled, "Unexpected Turns: God's Design to Prosper Us."

Better Than Well: A Discussion About the Ethics of Technological Enhancement

On March 18, faculty members and researchers at Boston-area universities gathered to discuss the new possibilities that have emerged for human enhancement in both the life sciences and computing, providing capabilities beyond what is normally available to healthy human beings. Attendees represented MIT, Harvard University, Boston College, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, and Wellesley College.

Danny Yamashiro

Danny is a MIT Chaplain, founder and president of JCCY, Inc. (Jesus Christ is Calling You Ministries), novelist, and speaker. He earned a doctorate for his research on American presidents and childhood trauma. Listen to his conversation with Nathan Barczi.

Scholarly News

Katie Galloway wrote a commentary for Nature Reviews Genetics on changes in cell-cycle rate drive diverging cell fates.

Randy Kirchain co-authored a study on innovative solutions for the ready mixed concrete industry.

Mingda Li co-authored an article in Nature Communications on current-induced switching of a van der Waals ferromagnet at room temperature.

Christopher Love contributed to a study published in Science on liquid biopsies for tumor analysis using priming agents that reduce the clearance of cell-free DNA.

Stephen Schaffner co-authored a study on genetic surveillance of the Plasmodium falciparum parasite for helping National Malaria Control Program assess parasite transmission in Malaria Journal.

Does AI Threaten Human Diginity?

Octet is co-sponsoring the Veritas Forum hosted by the MIT Graduate Christian Fellowship on April 4 at 7 pm in Wong Auditorium with featured speakers Max Tegmark, MIT physics professor, and Rosalind Picard, MIT Media Lab professor, moderated by Fr. Philip Larrey, Boston College philosophy professor. The discussion will explore what it means to be human in the age of AI through secular and Christian lenses.

Post-forum discussions will immediately follow with dinner and other refreshments.

• MIT's Civil Discourse in the Classroom and Beyond will host two events: "Israel/Palestine: What's Next?" on April 4 at 7 pm in 2-190, and "Did Elites Eat the Social Justice Movement?" on April 8 at 7 pm in 32-155.
• On Pi Day, 1,275 students were offered admission to join MIT's 2028 class, hailing from all 50 states, 58 countries and nearly a thousand different high schools.
• MIT hosted its 2024 Energy Conference on March 11 and 12 titled, "Short and Long: A Balanced Approach to the Energy Transition."

Ministry News & Events

• The MIT Baptist Student Fellowship will host its Refuge Question Night on March 20 at 5:30 pm in W11-080. Submit your question anonymously!
• The MIT Tech Catholic Community will host a graduate student and young professional dinner and discussion on March 21 at 6 pm in Wll Main Dining Room.
• The MIT Asian Christian Fellowship hosts its large group every Friday at 7:30 pm in Twenty Chimneys (Study 3).
• MIT RUF hosts its Dinner and Discussions on Tuesdays at 6:30 in W11-080.
• MIT Cru's large group gathering is on Tuesdays at 8 pm.
• MIT's Graduate Christian Fellowship is hosting Journey Groups of 3-4 people who meet weekly to share about life and pray for one another.

Jennifer Herdt

In February, Octet hosted Jennifer Herdt, Professor of Christian Ethics at Yale University, for an intellectual hospitality event. Herdt led a discussion of moral formation in a pluralistic university setting. Listen to the audio recording via the link below.